Duck meat production has received less welfare attention than chicken and pig farming, despite ducks having complex needs that are frequently unmet in commercial systems. Understanding duck welfare drives industry improvement.
Ducks in commercial systems face systematic deprivation of their most fundamental behavioral needs - access to water for bathing and diving. This is not a marginal welfare concern but a central one, as ducks are highly motivated to perform these water-related behaviors. Eye and nostril health problems are more common in ducks without water access because they cannot properly clean their bills and eyes. Welfare improvements for farmed ducks center on providing appropriate water access, addressing fast-growth impacts through selection for slower-growing breeds or reduced stocking density, and improving environmental enrichment. Consumer demand for higher-welfare duck products drives market transformation.